They are going to get "bullied" as long as they roll over under pressure. Bryant, Lawrence and Elliott are the template and Elliott broke new ground in holding out with 2 years left. Every agent knows the Joneses are round heeled and he sure as hell isn't leaving any money on the table because of their propensity to crater. They're contracts are used to lure other clients.
"Pay the man" resounds across the forum countered by "don't pay the man" until it's their man they want paid.
Jones isn't a GM, he's a star struck fan with control of the cap.
The problem isn't paying 5 players on the O in the top 6 at their position or 2 more likely to get there at QB and WR or a D player, it is everything else. The Cowboys simply aren't a good enough drafting team to cover the other positions and injuries are going to be more problematic for them. It is simply too much to too few. Pay enough "A" players and you will end up with too many D and below.
This talented team myth is just that. If you confine the team to the offense or OL and RB or skill positions, yes it is a talented team and can go head to head with any team. But, add the D and ST to that and what have you got? Exactly what their schedule was, the definition of mediocrity, 8-8. And they've had 3 mediocre drafts in a row. Too much to too few and mediocre drafts will not take this team anywhere.
Bullying is the right word to describe it because the Joneses are the weak little sissies standing at the edge of the schoolyard with their lunch money held out for the taking. And it's not the bullies that are at fault.